Mode selection switch



NOV. 21, 1 967 A. CLIFFGARD ETAL MODE SELECTION SWITCH Filed Oct; 24, 1966 ARNIE L. CLIFFGARD JACK J. KEEGAN JERROLD H. RANDALL INVENTORS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,354,355 MODE SELECTION SWITCH Arnie L. Cliifgard, Fountain Valley, Jack J. Keegan, Fullerton, and Jerrold H. Randall, Corona Del Mar, Califi,

assignors to Beckman Instruments, Inc., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 589,041 7 Claims. (Cl. 317-101) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mode selection switch is disclosed having a female receptacle containing a number of contacts between preselected ones of which alternate circuit modes are to be connected. A male insert is provided having a section with conducting and insulating portions adapted to be inserted into the receptacle in more than one position.

This invention relates to a mode selection switch and, more particularly, to such a switch employing simple construction which may be arranged to avoid the possibility of damaging the associated circuitry by inexperienced personnel.

In the prior art, when it has been desired to provide a circuit with a mode selection switch involving a plurality of contacts, relative complex devices such as disclosed in U.S. Patents 695,366Ayer, and 2,916,675 Dix, have been employed. Such devices are relatively expensive to construct. In some instances single plugs have been used in various combinations to construct different circuits. An example of such is shown in US. Patent 1,705- 3l5-States.

It is the main purpose of the invention to provide a new and improved mode selection switch for selectively changing from one circuit to another, employing a minimum of mechanical parts.

This and other objects are achieved by providing a mode selection switch characterized by a female receptacle containing a number of contacts between pre-selected ones of which alternate circuit modes are connected, a male insert including at least one printed circuit board section having conducting and insulating portions adapted to be inserted into the receptacle in more than one position, the pre-selected ones and conducting portions being arranged such that for diiferent positions of insertion different ones of the pre-selected contacts are interconnected by the conducting portions to establish different ones of the circuit modes.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, and further objects and advantages thereof, can best be understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the male insert of one embodiment of a switch in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a'printed circuit board employing two mode selection switches in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a male insert for a mode selection switch in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4A is a side view of a male insert and FIG. 4B a top view of an associated female receptacle for a third embodiment of the switch provided with alternate means for preventing the making of certain connections.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one form of a male insert of a mode selection switch in accordance with the'invention. This unit comprises four rectangular sections 10, 11, 12 and 13, constructed of insulating material and arranged at right angles to each other, extending outwardly from a common axis 14. A portion 15 on one side of the insulated section 10 is shown as coated with a metallic coating, as is a portion 16 on one side of the insulated section 11. Such coatings may be applied using well-known printed circuit techniques.

The insert shown in FIG. 1 is used in conjunction with a circuit such as illustrated in FIG. 2, where a circuit board 17 is shown containing a printed circuit configuration with a number of standard electronic components mounted thereon. The board 17 contains a female receptacle body portion 18, including a slot 19 and a number of pairs of opposing electrical contacts 20. The insert of FIG. 1 may be rotated around axis 14 so that any of the sections 10-13 may be inserted into the slot 19 of FIG. 2, whereupon the coated metallic portions such as 15 and 16 will make contact between pre-selected ones of the contacts 20. This may be done either between two of the contacts 20 on one side of the slot 19, for example, or by connecting metallic coatings through the insulated sections 10-13 in any well-known manner using printed circuit techniques to make connections between preselected contacts 20 on opposite sides of slot 19.

FIG. 2 also illustrates a second female receptacle 21 having an insert 22 constructed on a single rectangular insulating sheet. The insert 22 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3, in side view. The sheet 22 is shown as having two metallic coated portions 23 and 24 arranged so that if the sheet is reversed in the connector 21 of FIG. 2, different ones of the electrical contacts contained therein will be interconnected.

A third embodiment in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 43. FIG. 4A shows a male insert 25 comprising an insulating sheet with a cut-out slot 26 extending upwardly therein. A U-shaped metallic coated portion 27 is located around both sides of the slot 26. A top View of the female receptacle of this connector is shown in FIG. 4B. The contact pairs 28 are provided with spacers 29, 30 and 31 in receptacle32, also of insulating material arranged as illustrated. The slot 26 cooperates with the spacers 29, 30 and 31 when the male insert 25 is inserted into receptacle 32. The width of insert 25 is such that it cannot be inserted between spacers 29 and 30, or 30 and 31. It also does not fit between the ends of receptacle 32 and spacers 29 or 31. In this manner, the insert 25 cannot inadvertently be used to connect certain ones of the contacts 28.

As described above, the mode switch of the invention enables one to select by means of plug-in, pre-programmed, circuit boards a variety of circuit operational modes. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, for example, not only can the individual male sections 1013 and insert 22 be inserted in a variety of manners individually, but they may also be inserted in a variety of combinations with each other. Thus, by reversing both the male inserts of FIGS. 1 and 2, and revolving the insert of FIG. 1, it would be possible to select up to sixteen programs within a limited amount of space. This eliminates the need for a user to select an operational mode of instrumentation by means of clipping wires or soldering in jumpers. Associated circuitry may be arranged in a manner such that any manner of inserting will not result in damage to the circuit.

As can be seen from the above disclosure, the configurations employed are structurally much simpler than rotary switches or other relatively complex mechanisms used for mode selection in the prior art, and result in fast and relatively error-free use and inexpensive and simple construction. The board program can readily be determined by inspection of the inserts.

Since the principles of the invention have now been made clear, modifications which are particularly adapted Patented Nov. 21, 1967 for specific situations without departing from those principles will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications as well as the subject matter described and to only be limited by the true spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mode selection switch comprising, a receptacle having a cavity containing a number of contacts between pre-selected ones of which alternate circuit modes are connected, a male insert including at least one printed circuit board section having conducting and insulating portions including means for insertion into said receptacle in more than one position, said pre-selected ones and said conducting portions upon insertion of said male insert in diflerent positionsthereof into said receptacle interconnecting different ones of said pre-selected ones of said contacts to establish different ones of said modes.

2. The switch of claim 1 in which said at least one section is rectangular and said receptacle includes a body portion having a straight slot therein for receiving said at least one section.

3. The switch of claim 2 in which said body portion contains a number of pairs of said number of contacts arranged opposite each other along the two sides of said slot.

4. The switch of claim 2 in which said conducting portions include at least two conducting portions on opposite sides of said at least one rectangular section, and means for connecting said at least two conducting portions through said section.

5. The switch of claim 1 in which said at least one section includes a plurality of sections joined at a cornmon axis which may be rotated around said axis to insert each of said plurality of sections separately into said receptacle.

6. The switch of claim 3 in which said section contains a cut-out slot extending upwardly therein and said receptacle contains an insulating spacer between at least two of said pairs of said number of contacts, said cut-out slot being positioned to permit said section to be inserted in said straight slot by interleaving said spacer and said cut-out slot, and said section having a Width suflicient to prevent insertion in said straight slot at least in one section of said straight slot not including said spacer.

7. The switch of claim 6 in which said conducting portions include at least one conducting portion extending around the sides of said cut-out slot for making contact between two of said contacts on opposite sides of said spacer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,854,552 9/1958 Gouverneur 317101 X 3,008,245 12/1961 Meuche 317101 X 3,139,492 6/1964 Cage 339-31 X 3,148,356 9/1964 Hedden 317101 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MODE SELECTION SWITCH COMPRISING, A RECEPTACLE HAVING A CAVITY CONTAINING A NUMBER OF CONTACTS BETWEEN PRE-SELECTED ONES OF WHICH ALTERNATE CIRCUIT MODES ARE CONNECTED, A MALE INSERT INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD SECTION HAVING CONDUCTING AND INSULATING PORTIONS INCLUDING MEANS FOR INSERTION INTO SAID RECEPTACLE IN MORE THAN ONE POSITION, SAID PRE-SELECTED ONES AND SAID CONDUCTING PORTIONS UPON INSERTION OF SAID MALE INSERT IN DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID PRE-SELECTED ONES OF INTERCONNECTING DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID PRE-SELECTED ONES OF SAID CONTACTS TO ESTABLISH DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID MODES. 